MANILA, Philippines – The United States Trade Representative (USTR) office is doubtful that the Save the Industries Act, the bill touted to save the ailing Philippine garments industry, will be passed because the Philippines has labor and intellectual property rights issues, the Board of Investments (BOI) said.
In an interview, BOI director Thelma Murillo said that during their video conference with the USTR last month, the US raised the intellectual property rights and labor issues during the discussions for the Save Act.
“The US would like to address the labor issues (in the Philippines) before continuing,” Murillo said in Filipino.
Murillo said that this is the bigger issue in the bid of the Philippines to pass the Save Act before the US Congress. She said that the industry is willing to remove some of the contentious provisions in the bill to make it more palatable to the US government.
In fact, the Philippine government is set to retrieve the filed Save the Industries Act before the US Congress in order to amend some of the provisions of the proposed law.
This will be done despite the September ultimatum set be Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo. The Philippine government has been lobbying for the passage of the Save Act for at least two years because it is expected to revive the garment industry.
The Save Act was filed before the US Senate last month. However, Murillo said the bill will be retrieved in order to remove some of the provisions. Murillo said it is still unclear to her which provisions will be removed. Industry players met last week to polish the bill.
Murillo said that because of the amendments, the Save Act is expected to be refiled by June, only three months before the September deadline. Murillo said after September, it would be difficult to pass the law because the US politicians will be busy preparing for the elections.
The Philippines has already rehired lobby group Sorrini, Samet and Associates (SSA) after terminating their services last year. “The contract last year was preterminated because nothing happened to the bill. It was not even discussed during the lame duck session.” –Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star)
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
June 6: Migrant Workers Day
June 19: Filipino Youth Day
June 25: Day of the Filipino Seafarer
